Method of repairing damaged carpeting

ABSTRACT

A METHOD AND TOOL FOR REPARING DAMAGED CARPETING IN WHICH THE TOOL IS OPERATED TO SEVER A DAMAGED SECTION OF PILE FROM ITS UNDERLYING BASE MATERIAL, APPLYING AN ADHESIVE TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BASE MATERIAL EXPOSED BY SUCH SEVERING, REPLACING THE DAMAGED SECTION WITH A TRANSPOSED SECTION OF PILE MATCHING THE DAMAGE SECTION IN CONTOUR AND COLOR, EXCEPT FOR THE DAMAGED PORTION THEREOF, AND PRESSING THE THUS TRANSPOSED SECTION OF PILE   INTO ADHERING CONTACT WITH SAID ADHESIVE BEARING SURFACE OF BASE MATERIAL.

-2 B) CJ P-LIE:

Jan.26, 1971y J. A. RoNNlNG 1 3,558,384

` METHOD OF REPAIRING DAMAGED CARPETING l med April 21,'v 1967 Irfan/er:

v.714608 A. Ram/vw@ United States Patent Oihce v l 3,558,384 METHOD F REPAIRING DAMAGED vCARPETING Jacob A. Ronning, 3543 Irving Ave; S.,

' Minneapolis, Minn. 55408 Filed Apr. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 632,629 Int. Cl. B32b 35/00 ULS. Cl. 156-98 4 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE i A method and tool for repairing damaged carpeting in which the tool is operated to sever a damaged section of pile from its underlying Ibase material, applying an adhesive to the upper surface of the base material exposed by such severing, replacing the damaged section with a transposed section of pile matching the damaged section `in contour and color, except for the damaged portion thereof, and pressing the thus "transposed section of pile into adhering contact with said adhesive bearing surface of base material.

i The method essentially includes the steps ofl (a). re-

moving afsection of the pile from thebase material of the carpet, of sufficient size to include the damaged area, (b) applying an adhesive to the surface of the base material from which the section has been removed, (c) undercutting a section of pile, corresponding 'in sizeand conformation to the removed section, from the base material of a spare piece of carpeting or from another part of the same carpeting, (d) transposing the undercut section of pile to the location from which the damaged section has `been removed, and (e) pressing the transposed section into contact with the base material surface to which the adhesive has been applied.

The tool for removing the damaged section of pile, and which may also but not necessarily be used for severing the substitute section of pile, includes a shank or stem adapted to be held in and rotated by a manually manipulable power unit, together with one or more cutters that are mounted in the shank for axial adjustment therein, but which during rotation may be radially extended from the terminal end of the shank to undercut ythe pile section immediately above the base area to which the section is normally attached.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a damaged portion of carpeting with the cutting tool positioned directly above the damaged spot or area, and with the tool itself also shown partially in section.

FIG.` 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the tool in its lowermost position, and with its cutters radially extended.

FIG. 3 is a plan view partly in section, as on line 3 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a carpet piece from which the replacement section of pile is to 'be taken, and further illustrating devices for severing and transferring the same.

FIG. 5 is a Vertical section on the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section similar to FIG. 5, but showing a Patented Jan. 26, 1971 further progression in the section transferring operation.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters A designates the pile of a carpet or rug having a base B, the same resting in normal manner on floor C. D represents a spot or area that has been damaged by a burn, scorch or other cause. The object is to remove the damaged section of pile from the underlying base and replace it Awith a similar section, taken from a spare piece or if necessary from a part of the carpet that is normally concealed from open view, so that the repaired area will not present an objectionable appearance, and so that the repairing operation will in no way interfere with the strength or stability of the carpet elements worked on.

The device shown for removing the damaged section of pile consists of a shank 7 adapted to have its upper end inserted and secured inthe socket, indicated by dotted lines 8, of a conventional electric hand drill, or other suitably powered holder, whereby it may be conveniently manipulated. The lower end of the shank is pointed, as at 9, so that it can be pressed down through the pile and into the base material as indicated in FIG. 2.

Extending diametrically across the shank is an elongated slot 10 terminating, immediately above the point 9, in a pair of relatively offset outlets 11 that curve outwardly in opposite directions to form guides for a pair of cutter blades 12 and 13. These blades may be formed from the same piece of resilient spring steel, Ibut in any event, if two blades are employed, their upper ends are laterally connected to a collar 14 that rotates 4with the shank and blades, but is rotatable within an outer collar or knob 15 that is grasped by the operator when a blade adjustment is being made.

Thus, while the shank is being rotated, and the blades contracted, as in FIG. 1, the unit is moved down into the middle of the damaged area D until the point 9 is well down into the base B, at which time the outlets 11 are disposed at =a level immediately above the base. With his other hand the operator then grasps the knob 15 and pushes it downwardly, thus gradually projecting the blades horizontally to the extent that is necessary to remove the entire damaged area of the pile. The circular block or pad of pile material, indicated at A1 in FIGS. 2 and 3, that has thus been severed, is removed and discarded, leaving an empty circular recess in the carpet having the now exposed face of the base yB for its bottom.

It may here be noted that the shank 7 is provided with a scale 16 with indicia that may be read in conjunction with the upper surface of the knob 15 to indicate the diameter of the recess that has been cut. Also that the cutting operation may be facilitated by serrating the leading outer edges of the blades 12 and 13, as indicated at 17 in FIG. 3.

The replacement section A2 of pile material that is to next occupy the circular recess is, as above indicated, taken from a spare or normally concealed piece of carpeting, but its removal and transfer requires greater care as its condition and appearance must be retained as near normal as possible until the transition is completed.

To this end I provide a sleeve 18 having slidably overlapped portions 19 so that the diameter of the sleeve may be adjusted. Preferably this diameter should be slightly greater than the scale indicated diameter of the section A1 that has been removed. The sleeve is then pressed down into the pile, -as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and it will be noted that the sleeve is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed vertical ribs 20 which serve as index devices to assist in properly placing the section A2 in the cleaned out recess when patterns and pile weaves must be taken into consideration.

As above suggested the cutter mechanism shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 may be employed to sever the section A2 from the base beneath it. In some instances, however, and particularly where the cutting may be done from the side rather than from above, and also when the texture of the pile is such that it might be disturbed and disrupted by a fast moving rotary cutter, it is found expedient to undercut the section by a simple but very sharp knife 21. Such knife, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, is forced under the sleeve 18 and with a slicing action completely severs the section A2 while the sleeve assists in keeping the section intact.

To further assist in preventing disruption of the section A2 the sleeve 18 may be contracted suiciently to compact and present a slight grip on the section. T o still further maintain its condition a spatula-type plate may be inserted under the section, or in fact the knife blade 21 might be broad enough to serve such purpose.

As a still further precaution against disruption of the section A2 a circular block of wood or other suitable material 22, of a predetermined diameter to correspond with the contracted sleeve 18, may be inserted directly above the section A2. This will not only serve to prevent upward buckling of the section but can also be employed to exert a uniform pressure on it when it is to be discharged and pressed down into its new location.

Before the final step of pressing the new section A2 down into the recess from which section A1 has been removed, provision must be made for retaining it in place and this is done by covering the now exposed upper face of the base material B with a suitable adhesive. This may consist of glue or paste, depending on various conditions, and in some instances it may be feasible to merely insert in the recess a precut element having adhesive surfaces on both sides and from which protecting coatings have been removed.

In any event, when the operation is completed the equipment is removed and the new section is merely stepped on to force it down to its normal surface level where it will be permanently retained by whatever adhesive is used, and with a little practice the results are such that the repaired area will be completely free of the unsightly damage.

Having now illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of repairing carpeting or the like, having pile woven into a base and in which an area of the pile has been damaged, which includes the steps of (a) cutting the damaged portion of the pile from the base portion to which it is attached, (b) applying an adhesive to the base area that has been exposed by the removed pile portion, and (c) transposing to the base area to which the adhesive has been applied an undamaged portion of pile that has been cut from another area of like colored carpeting.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 in which one of said pile portions is removed from its base portion by a cutter operating circularly in a horizontal plane to undercut the pile immediately adjacent to the base surface to which it is attached.

3. The method of repairing carpeting or the like, having pile woven into a base and in which an area of the pile has been damaged, which includes the steps of (a) cutting a section of pile having the damaged area from the base along a plane parallel with and adjacent to the base, (b) cutting another section of undamaged pile from a similar piece of carpeting and of a size, color and conformation corresponding to that of the first cut section, (c) substituting said other section for the first cut section, and (d) permanently securing it to the base surface from which said first section was removed.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 including the act of circumferentially engaging and containing the said other section in substantially its normal form and condition while it is being transferred from one location to the other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,942,425 1/ 1934 Holman 156-94 1,947,152 2/ 1934 Clark 156-98UX 2,091,450 8/ 1937 Miller 144-310-2UX 3,010,859 11/1961 Stephens et al. l56-72X 3,271,217 9/1966 Mapson 156--98 B'ENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner S. C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner 

